Testimonial Durability Diagnostics with ZODIAC
My name is Nadia Nia, QSE Manager at Zodiac. I work at the company’s research and development centre, which focuses primarily on the manufacturing of pool cleaning robots and heat pumps. In April 2024, we launched a durability assessment with the LONGTIME® team, focusing on our corded pool robots as well as the battery-powered wireless models. These are product lines we are actively investing in for the future.
What motivated you to carry out a sustainability audit and what were your main objectives?
We had already worked on assessing the lifespan of our products—work requested by our Spanish headquarters—but we weren’t quite sure how to make practical use of the results. That’s why we were particularly motivated by this assessment: it helped us structure our thinking and identify concrete actions to take forward.
Our objectives were twofold: to identify areas for improvement in our products and to lay the foundations for potentially obtaining a certification that would strengthen our brand image and help us stand out from the crowd.
How would you describe your experience with the LONGTIME® team and the methodology used?
Our experience with the LONGTIME® team was very positive. The service provided was of high quality, both technically and in terms of interpersonal relations. We were particularly impressed by the strong technical expertise of the team. The staff were responsive, their explanations were clear, and the discussions were smooth. We especially appreciated the swift implementation of the support process.
The methodology was well structured and clear overall. However, certain criteria, such as the cost/product ratio for spare parts, were difficult to apply in our context.
What aspects of the support have particularly impressed you?
I particularly appreciated the understanding of the LONGTIME® team and their ability to adapt to our constraints. The work was pragmatic and field-oriented, which made a real difference for us.
What are the main lessons you have learned from the diagnosis and how have you used the final report?
The assessment helped us bring to light aspects we had stopped noticing. Our work on our products is of high quality, and it’s true that we are always focused on improvement. When we were told that the results were quite positive, it reassured us that we are heading in the right direction. It also gave us greater clarity on our products. Overall, the assessment confirmed the good quality of our products while highlighting clear areas for improvement. It helped us better understand our strengths and prioritise the areas that require further effort.
The report has strengthened our confidence in our products while helping us to identify specific weaknesses to work on, such as the organisation around reparability.
Do you see any tangible benefits for your company?
Absolutely. There was a lot of discussion during the workshop. These discussions enabled the development managers, technicians and the whole team to come up with ideas for improving certain aspects of the product.
Has this diagnosis influenced your decisions or priorities in terms of product design or sustainability strategy?
Yes, he confirmed the importance of focusing on sustainable products and encouraged us to consider LONGTIME® certification.
Have you already started to implement any of the recommendations arising from the evaluation? If so , which ones?
Yes, we’re already working on improvements, such as continuing to favour screw fasteners to make them easier to repair, even if this means extra costs.
How would you assess the cost/benefit ratio of this diagnosis for your company?
The cost/benefit ratio is excellent. It’s a quality service that delivers concrete, usable results.
Would you recommend this diagnosis to other companies? If so, why?
Yes, without hesitation. This diagnosis is a valuable tool for understanding where we stand and identifying the actions we need to take, even if we don ‘t go as far as certification.
Would you consider taking the next step, such as LONGTIME® certification for your products?
It’s an option we’ re considering for the coming year, as it would showcase all our expertise.
If you had to sum up your LONGTIME® experience in one sentence, what would it be?
” A rewarding experience, pragmatic and focused on concrete results.